“Oh, uh, nothing. I’m just looking forward to heading home. I think I might go to Folded Corners and get a coffee and a book.”
Linda nodded, “Well, it is Wednesday, that’s usually when you go, isn’t it?”
“Yep,” Sofey grinned.
“I might see you there tonight. Beau wants to go get some poppers, he swears they make the best in the world.”
Sofey rolled her eyes and laughed. “How would he know that?”
“He knows, oh, he knows.” Linda finished cleaning her area and grabbed her purse. “Have a good night if I don’t see you later.”
Sofey waved goodbye and grabbed her purse by the strap, pulling it off the counter and spilling chapstick, her wallet, two pens, a tissue packet, and a book to the floor. She picked up the book; it was The Cowboy and the City Girl. Riggin had talked her into just reading a few pages to see if she could get into it at all. Even though she knew she’d probably love it, it had been a week and she hadn’t opened it. She felt a pang of regret that she hadn’t done what she said she would. She shrugged and tossed it back in her purse, she probably wouldn’t run into him again anyway. Now, she just wanted to go home, shower to get the food smell off of her, and get into a comfy pair of joggers. June would always make fun of her for wearing them because she said they were just fancy sweatpants, but Sofey didn’t care when she was just going to the bookstore to relax and hide by herself in the back.
After her shower, she pulled on her favorite dark gray joggers, an oversized light gray sweatshirt, and her tennis shoes. She pulled her hair up into a ponytail and twisted it into a messy bun before grabbing her purse and heading out the door.
“See ya later, Rob Roy. Be a good kitty.” Rob Roy didn’t respond.
It was 7 PM and the only customers in Folded Corners were two teenage boys with glasses and pimples, flirting with the barista. The barista smiled at Sofey and hurried over to take her order. The smell of freshly baked cinnamon rolls made her mouth water and her stomach grumble. Fight it! Fight it! You don’t have to have the sweet roll of goodness!
After setting up her cinnamon roll and coffee on the table in front of the chaise lounge, she went to find The Count of Monte Cristo. She had decided it was time to reread it, in her own voice this time. She found it easily and went back to her chair to snuggle up. She tossed her purse on the floor and watched as The Cowboy and the City Girl tumbled out.
“Uhhh,” she grabbed the book and leaned back. Fine. I guess I’ll read a couple of chapters. At least then, if I see him again, I can say I did it.
“So, how are ya liking the book?”
Sofey jumped at the sound of Riggin’s voice. “Oh, um,” her face was turning red, she could feel it. Then she remembered she had joggers and a huge sweatshirt on and she wanted to disappear into the chaise lounge. “It’s OK,” she managed. She had only promised to read a couple chapters, but it was 8 PM and she had already read through chapter eight.
Riggin smiled and nodded, “I knew you’d get into it.”
“Who said I’m into it? I’m just reading it because I said I would try it.” She looked away so her eyes wouldn’t give away her lie. She was enjoying the dumb book.
“I see. Maybe you’ll figure out if you like it or not before you get to the end.” Riggin sat down on the end of the chair. “How’s the cinnamon roll today?”
“Have a seat.” Sofey grinned. “It’s good. Want some?”
“I thought you’d never ask.” Riggin grabbed the middle out and stuffed it in his mouth.
“Hey!” Sofey swatted at his arm. “You took the best part!”
Riggin laughed and swallowed the gooey middle. “I know! And it was good.”
“I hope it wasn’t.” Sofey pouted, then blushed.
“I’ll buy you another one.” Riggin chuckled as he stood up.
“Oh, you don’t have to. I was teasing.”
“I was teasing too.” He walked around the corner and reappeared with only the middle of a cinnamon roll. “Here you go. I just wanted to see you smile again. I was hoping you’d be here.”
Sofey reddened. Riggin picked up The Count of Monte Cristo. “Is this a good book? I’ve heard it is, but I’ve never read it.”
“What? You’ve never read the greatest revenge story of all time?” Sofey put her palm to her forehead.
Riggin chuckled, “Well, maybe I should read it, huh? That is if I can put my romances down for that long.” He winked at Sofey.
“You know, that book has romance in it too.” Sofey tapped on the book cover and winked back. “I think you’ll like it.”
“You sold me!” He leaned back and began to read. “Hey, it doesn’t take me long to read, I mean I can read pretty fast. Maybe I should meet you here next week and we can discuss it?”
“Oh, um, OK. That should work. Maybe. Doesn’t your wife ever wonder about you being out late?” Sofey blushed,”Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.”
Riggin blushed too. “No, really, it’s O.K.” Riggin looked down at the book in his hands, “She honestly hates books. She has other interests so we mostly do our own thing.”
“I see. Hey, can I ask you a couple questions I’ve been wondering about?”
Riggin cringed but said, “OK, sure.”
“Well, why did you go on Jury of Love? I mean, what made you want to go on the show?”
Riggin let out a sigh of relief,”Well, it was kind of weird. I was sitting with Pappy at the table talking about Emb...oh, well, that’s another story for another time. Anyway, we were discussing my ex and what had happened. I set down my jar of tea-”
Sofey giggled, “Your jar of tea?”
Riggin smiled, “Yeah, I got that from Pappy. He always drank his tea, and he loved sweet tea, in an old jar.”
“Aww, I think that’s cute.”
Mmm, every other girl I know says it’s trashy. Riggin continued, “When I got up to put our jars in the sink, I noticed that mine had left a ring on the newspaper that was sitting on the table. Inside the ring was the ad calling for contestants to audition for the show.” Riggin sipped his coffee and raised his brows. “My turn.”
“Hey, wait! That didn’t answer why you wanted to go. And, did you like being on the show? What’s it like being married to someone you barely know?”
Riggin blushed and looked down at his hands. He knew the subject of Rita was going to come up. “OK. I’ll answer your questions on one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“You have to answer a few of mine.”
Sofey rolled her eyes. “Deal.”
“Alright. Let’s see, why did I want to go on the show? When I saw the ad circled in a ring of freshly brewed sweet tea, I knew it had to be a sign.” He laughed when he saw Sofey raise her brows. “Just kidding. No, really, I had just gotten out of a really kind of, mmm, manipulative relationship and I guess I just wanted to go do something, anything that was different. So, I went without thinking too much about it.”
Sofey nodded, “I would’ve done the exact same thing.”
Riggin smiled, “OK, did I like being on the show? Well, let me answer it this way, it was an experience. Something I will never do again and something most people will never do. I didn’t agree with everything the show did, but I made it through.” Riggin chuckled and looked back at his hands.
“Yeah, you made it through! With a wife and a million dollars even.”
Riggin cringed. “I don’t have a million dollars, yet. And even if it works, I’ll only get half.”
“If it works? And only half is $500,000!”
“OK, my last question to answer was ‘what’s it like being married to someone you barely know?’” Riggin squirmed in his seat and half smiled at Sofey. “It’s...it’s...um, well, it’s hard to explain. Pretend that…” Riggin looked off in space searching for an analogy. “Pretend that you and Mr. Ford Daily decided to get married tomorrow.”
Sofey furrowed her brows. “I’m pretty sure that I wouldn’t do
that.”
“Well, that’s what it’s like. You don’t know anything about the person. And what you find out about the person, you might not like. Maybe he’s not a mass murderer, but maybe you can’t stand his personality.”
Sofey was confused. “If I didn’t like someone’s personality, I for sure wouldn’t marry him.”
“I didn’t think I would either,” Riggin mumbled. “So, my turn to ask the questions.”
Sofey shrugged, “Ask away.”
“First, I remember you said you like to write. What do you like to write? AND, why are you still single?”
Sofey shifted in her seat. “Oh, welllll, I have only told a few people what I write about, so don’t laugh ...and no judging.”
Riggin threw his hands up in surrender, “I will not judge! I promise.”
“Ooookkkk, I like to write... I mean, I haven’t finished anything yet and I’m not that good... But, I like to write romance.” She blushed and cleared her throat.
Riggin flopped back in his seat, his mouth open, “What? That’s pretty cool. I mean it. Funny that you make fun of me for liking to read it.”
Sofey tilted her head and smiled, “Thanks and I’ll make fun of anyone who reads it, just because I think it’s funny ...and it’ll keep my secret safe.”
“OK, now, why are you still single?”
Sofey laughed, “I guess because I didn’t find my calling on a dating show.”
Riggin leaned back and groaned.
“I’m joking. Well, kind of.” Sofey took a drink of her lukewarm coffee. “I guess I haven’t found Mr. Right. Or, he hasn’t found me.” Sofey shrugged, “I don’t know. Plus, I decided to start focusing on my writing and not dating. I’d really like to get something in my writing done.”
Riggin nodded, “Seems fair. So, how did your date with Ford go?”
Sofey leaned back with her coffee and smiled, “It was nice. He’s funny! And really smart. You know that he’s June’s grandson, right?”
“Oh, uh, yeah, I did know that. So, June set you guys up?”
Sofey nodded and sipped her coffee slowly. “Yeah, she did.”
Riggin grinned.
“Sofey! Hey!” Linda’s voice was loud and startling. “And hellooo there,” she looked Riggin up and down. “I’m Linda. You look so familiar. Beau, doesn’t he look familiar?”
Beau nodded and waved at Sofey. Offering his hand to Riggin, “Hi, I’m Beau.” And to Linda, “Everyone looks familiar to you.” Beau rolled his eyes. “Hey, how’s the cinnamon roll? I’ve heard they’re great.”
“They are wonderful, Beau. And this is Riggin.”
Linda snapped her fingers and did a little jump off the ground. “That’s it! You’re from that show, Jury of Love! What’s it like being a celebrity?” Linda was almost in Riggin’s face. “Do people bug you all the time? Like, ask you for your autograph and follow you around and stuff?”
Sofey snickered.
Beau rolled his eyes.
Riggin smiled, “Not as much anymore. And usually people aren’t very impressed. The show kinda made me look bad.”
Linda nodded, “Well, can I get your autograph ...please?” She handed him her paper coffee cup.
Riggin laughed and signed it.
“Come on,” Beau pulled on Linda’s arm, “Let’s go get those poppers.” Beau waved and added, “See you tomorrow Sofe. Riggin, it was nice meeting you.”
Linda waved at Sofey as Beau was pulling her away, “Hey, how was your date with that author?”
“It was good. We had a good time.” Sofey smiled. “I’ll tell you about it tomorrow, you need to go.”
Linda laughed and winked at Sofey as she left with Beau.
“Nice to meet the both of you. Have a nice night.” Riggin smiled and waved as the couple walked off arm in arm, giggling and talking. Rubbing his hands together he turned to Sofey, “They seem nice.”
“Yeah,” Sofey looked in the direction the happy couple went, “they are really nice. They are what I want to be like when I find ‘the one’. I want to be best friends. I want to do everything together and laugh all the time.” Sofey smiled, “Maybe that’s why I’m still single. I have very high expectations.”
“I don’t think wanting to be married to your best friend is a high expectation. I think that’s how it should be.”
Sofey shrugged. “Hey, maybe you could bring Rita with you sometime. I bet once she gets here, she’ll love it. I mean, I know you said she hates books, but there’s so much more…”
Riggin stood, picked up his coffee, and checked his watch. “I’ve got to get going. Sorry to rush out but I forgot about a call I was supposed to make,” he mumbled as he reached for his phone and waved goodbye.
What the heck? Whatever he has must be really important. I thought we were having a great conversation. Sofey watched him hurry out of the room, almost bumping into a guy carrying an armload of books under his chin. Sofe, you have to keep reminding yourself, he’s married! Those big arms, green eyes, long legs, and that sexy crooked smile belong to another woman. Even if he did marry for money on a stupid game show, he’s still married.
Chapter 13
Riggin started up his BMW, turned up the radio, loud, and pulled out into the street, squealing his new tires on the dry payment. What the hell? What the hell is wrong with me? He slammed his hand on the steering wheel over and over. His foot fell heavy on the gas pedal, he could feel the car accelerating. He entered the empty freeway doing 85 MPH. He didn’t know where he was going, and he didn’t care if he got there. OK, he cared if he got there, he just didn’t want to be where he was. He didn’t want to feel his heart crumbling from confusion and indecision.
The freeway lights zipped by outside his window as his mind drifted to another place in time.
“Hilary! Hilary! Come here, quick!” Jack called and held the front door open.
“What? What’s going on Jack?” Hilary said nervously as she ran toward the door.
Riggin sat on the porch swing, smiling, as his mom walked out the door with his dad covering her eyes. Riggin jumped down and yelled, “OPEN,” when his dad gave him the signal.
“Oh my gosh! Jackers!” Hiliary put her hand over her mouth. “How are we going to afford this?”
“Happy Birthday, my love.” Jack pulled her close and softly kissed her mouth. “And, don’t you worry about that, OK? It’s your birthday! Plus,” he whispered in her ear, “I got a huge raise!”
Riggin grabbed his mom’s hand and pulled her toward her new car. “Get in, Mom! Can you take me for a drive? Can I drive?”
Hiliary laughed, ruffling Riggin’s hair. Bending down to hug Riggin tight, she said, “Not today my little mister, you’re only seven! Plus, I get to drive it first. But, someday maybe you can drive me around.”
They had all climbed in and took the white Lexus for an hour-long drive. They had stopped by Grandma’s and Pappy’s to show it off on their way home.
“I love you guys! See you next weekend.” Hilary hugged her parents.
“We love you too, sweetie. Have a great birthday dinner date night, you two.” Grandma Betty smiled at Riggin. Getting down on her knees she pulled him close, “I love you stinker. You be good for that babysitter of yours.”
Riggin flung his arms around her neck and inhaled her gardenia scent into his nostrils. “I love you, Grandma. And, I’ll be good.”
Riggin watched Grandma and Pappy through the back window of the car as his mom drove away. Pappy nuzzled Grandma’s neck while Grandma smiled and laughed, waving the ‘I love you’ sign in sign language as the family drove away.
Riggin suddenly felt the hot tears staining his face. He wiped his cheek with the back of his hand and turned off the radio. It was a terrible song.
Sofey’s big brown eyes flashed in Riggin’s memory. They sparkled and danced and smiled. But she thinks I’m married.
Married. Married. Almost married.
Ember was against the wall with her arms wrapped aro
und a scrawny, thin man with a beard that hung down his chest. Riggin peeled his eyes from Scrawny and looked at Ember, her eyes were dry and emotionless.
Riggin scowled and hit the steering wheel hard with the palm of his right hand. How could that, that, manipulative woman do that to me? Riggin shook his head, how could I be so stupid to let her do that to me?
His hands squeezed the wheel tight, twisting it until it burned his palms. She even kept the damn ring that was in my jacket pocket!!
Riggin felt his face get hot. He couldn’t really afford the ring in the first place, but he didn’t want it back either. What was he going to do with it? But that was his favorite jacket, and he didn’t get that back either.
Jacket, jacket, jacket.
Sofey’s voice echoed through his mind, “Thanks for letting me use your jacket the other day. I’m sorry I haven’t gotten it back to you yet.”
She’s so pretty. She’s so nice. She thinks I’m married.
Pappy’s voice was in his ear, “Find a good girl, son. Find a smart girl. Treat her right and she’ll love you forever...and for real.”
A good girl will treat you right. Not like…
Riiggin’s memory went to when Rita let the door hit her in the face. She was holding her nose and stomping her feet until Riggin turned around. Greg’s face fell in mock surprise when they played the clip on the finale show, “What happened there, Riggin?”
“Greg, in this instance I was inquiring about…”
“You were too self-absorbed to even know Rita existed!” Greg pursed his lips and shook his head with disgust. “Rita, baby, what’s going on here?”
“It’s just like you said, Greg, he really didn’t even know I existed. He just always had something more important than me to tend to.”
“Hey, Greg, instead of making me look like a total jerk to the entire world, why don’t you let me explain what happened there, huh?”
“Oh yes, Riggin, why don’t you please explain.” Riggn said in a mock Greg voice.
“OK, so, Rita had asked me to find the best beauty parlor in the city. She said if I did, she would gush about me in the private interviews and make me look like the best guy on the show. And...sooo...I did! I mean, we made a pact to win.” Riggin cringed and cleared his throat, embarrassed he had caught himself yelling at the memory of Greg outloud in the car. “Anyway,” Riggin said calmly, “don’t look at me like that Greg, it’s true and if she was an honest girl, she’d tell you the truth.” Riggin’s voice raised, “But, Greg, the jokes on her! I NEVER WANTED HER!” Riggin settled back in his seat, “So, there, Rita.”
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